In the market to buy a new compact SUV?

Compact SUVs are one of the most competitive motoring segments. A budget of more than $30,000 gives you plenty of choice.

January 24 2013

David McCowen

Mazda CX-5

The dilemma: Carolyn wants to downsize from a large Kia Sorento V6 to a smaller SUV, with a four-cylinder engine and possibly two-wheel-drive.

The budget: $19,000 plus proceeds from the sale of her 2005 Sorento. We think the Kia would be worth about $11,000 as a trade-in (depending on condition), and, possibly, a few thousand more if sold privately.

The shortlist: Compact SUVs are one of the most competitive segments in motoring. A budget of more than $30,000 gives you plenty of choice, but feature-packed luxury models and turbo diesel drivelines will be a stretch at this budget.

Many compact SUVs are available without all-wheel-drive, trading superior traction for a lower price, better fuel economy and cheaper servicing.

Some cracking deals saw Nissan's X-Trail become the most popular compact SUV in Australia last year. The Nissan Dualis is another option to consider, along with the Mitsubishi Outlander, Holden Captiva, Skoda Yeti and Subaru XV.

One strong contender is Honda's new CR-V that costs $31,790 for the 2.0-litre front-wheel-drive model fitted with an automatic gearbox and satellite navigation.

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But we've limited our search to new SUVs under $33,000, and all prices listed are before dealer and on-road costs.

Mazda CX-5: The Mazda CX-5 beat the Mitsubishi Outlander, Honda CR-V and Skoda Yeti to win Drive's 2012 Car of the Year category for SUVs under $40,000. The CX-5's frugal fuel-use and car-like dynamics have made it a popular choice. The automatic Mazda CX-5 Maxx 4WD comes in under budget for $32,380, while the front-drive, manual 2.0 Maxx is much cheaper at $27,880. More: Reviewed: Mazda CX-5 Maxx.

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Toyota RAV4: Toyota will launch a new RAV4 in February, which could be one of the best cars in its class. It will be available with three four-cylinder engines, with premium models offering the choice of 2.2-litre diesel or 2.5-litre petrol engines paired to a six-speed manual or auto gearbox. The cheapest RAV4 will get a 107kW 2.0-litre engine and choice of manual or continuously variable transmission. Toyota has not announced pricing for the new RAV4, but entry-level models could sneak in under the $30,000 barrier. More: New Toyota RAV4 Details.

Subaru Forester: Like Toyota, Subaru is on the cusp of replacing one of its most popular cars. All models in the larger new Forester line-up are fitted with full-time all-wheel-drive and horizontally opposed four-cylinder engines that have a polarising thrum. The entry-level 2.0-litre Forester is only available with a manual transmission, at a cost of $30,990. The gruntier 2.5i model can be paired with an automatic transmission for $32,990. We've only had a brief preview of the new Forester – it goes on sale within weeks – and it remains a capable choice. More: Reviewed: New Subaru Forester.

Drive recommends: Mazda's CX-5 is the pick of cars currently on sale if you need to buy a car today. The Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester have dominated the compact SUV market in the past and should provide a compelling argument against the CX-5 when they go on sale this year. It might pay to keep your options open if you're not in a rush to buy.